Showing 1-19 of 19 results
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19th-century Tartu Citizen's Home Museum
Amid period furnishings, the 19th-century Tartu Citizen's Home Museum shows how a burgher from the 1830s lived.
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A Le Coq Beer Museum
The A Le Coq Beer Museum at the brewery briefly covers the history of beer-making, but focuses mainly on the machinery and techniques A Le Coq has used to churn out their trademark beverage since 1879. You get your chance to sample their brew at the end - have some patience!
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Botanical Gardens
The Botanical Gardens, founded in 1803, nurtures 6500 species of plants and a large collection of palm trees in its giant greenhouse. A wander through the grounds is both pleasant and free.
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Estonian Literary Museum
One of the most important archives in the country, the Estonian Literary Museum is a national research museum housing an immense collection of Estonian folklore, ethnomusicology and cultural history. The museum hosts periodic exhibitions of historical artefacts and photographs from the collection.
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Estonian National Museum
Tartu, as the major repository of Estonia's cultural heritage, has an abundance of first-rate museums. Among them is perhaps the country's best: the Estonian National Museum traces the history, life and traditions of the Estonian people. Don't miss the regional displays of folk costumes and exhibits of uniquely handcrafted tankards. Temporary exhibits here are also noteworthy.
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KGB Cells Museum
The former KGB headquarters, known infamously as the 'Grey House', is now the sombre KGB Cells Museum, chronicling the deportations and life in the gulags. In 1990 the weeping cornflower monument was erected in front of the KGB buildings in memory of the victims of Soviet repression. The blue cornflower is Estonia's national flower.
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Museum of University History
The imposing Gothic Tartu Cathedral houses the Museum of University History. Inside you'll find a reconstructed autopsy chamber and other exhibits chronicling student life.
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Observatory
Atop Cathedral Hill is the old Observatory, set in a grand 1810 building. It's open by appointment, so phone ahead.
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St John's Church
North of the university, on the continuation of Ülikooli, stands the magnificent St John's Church. This brick church dates back to at least 1323, and is unique for its rare terracotta sculptures in niches around the main portal. It lay in ruins following the Soviet bombing raid in 1944. Today it is once again open - after 16 years of renovation.
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Student's Lock-Up
The Student's Lock-Up is fascinating; it's where 19th-century students were held in solitary confinement for various infractions. Back then, if you failed to return library books on time, you'd net two days in the attic; insulting a lady, four days; insulting a (more sensitive?) cloakroom attendant, five days; duelling, up to three weeks. Today one of these rather comfy rooms, with walls covered in original graffiti, is open for viewing.
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Tartu Art Museum
Near the Town Hall is the wonderfully crooked building housing the Tartu Art Museum, former home of Colonel Barclay de Tolly (1761-1818), an exiled Scot who distinguished himself in the Russian army's 1812 campaign against Napoleon. Foundations laid partially over an old town wall have given the building its pronounced lean.
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Tartu Cathedral
Atop Cathedral Hill is the imposing Gothic Tartu Cathedral. It was built by German knights in the 13th century, rebuilt in the 15th century, despoiled during the Reformation in 1525, used as a barn, and partly rebuilt between 1804 and 1807 to house the university library, which is now the Museum of University History.
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Tartu Sports Museum
The Tartu Sports Museum chronicles much more than Estonian Olympic excellence. There's a display of the life of a 19th-century postman and early-20th-century bodybuilders, and interactive tug-of-war on the 2nd floor.
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Tartu University
Tartu University was founded in 1632 by the Swedish king, Gustaf II Adolf. Lined with Corinthian columns, the impressive main building dates from 1803. More fascinating is the Student's Lock-Up, where 19th-century students were held in solitary confinement for various infractions. One of these rooms, complete with original graffiti, is open for viewing.
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Tartu University Art Museum
The Tartu University Art Museum contains mainly plaster casts of ancient Greek sculptures, made in Europe in the 1860s and 1870s, and an old mummy. The rest of the collection was evacuated to Russia during the war and has never returned.
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Toomemägi
Toomemägi, rising behind the Town Hall, is a splendidly landscaped park, with walking paths meandering through the trees. This hill is the original reason for Tartu's existence, functioning on and off as a stronghold from around the 5th or 6th century. The approach from Raekoja plats is along Lossi tänav, which passes beneath the Angel's Bridge (Inglisild), which was built between 1836 and 1838. A bit further up the hill is Devil's Bridge (Kuradisild).
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Toomemägi (Cathedral Hill)
Rising behind the Town Hall, Toomemägi is a splendidly landscaped park, with walking paths meandering through the trees. This hill is the reason for Tartu's existence, functioning on and off as a stronghold from around the 5th or 6th century. Atop the hill is the imposing Gothic cathedral Toomkirik (dome church) built by German knights in the 13th century.
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Town Hall
At the town centre on Raekoja plats is the Town Hall. Built between 1782 and 1789, it's topped by a tower and weather vane, and fronted by a statue of lovers kissing under a spouting umbrella. The building's design came courtesy of the German architect JHB Walter, who modelled it on a typical Dutch town hall. A clock was added to encourage students to be punctual for classes.
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Toy Museum
Set in one of Tartu's oldest buildings (dating back to the 1770s), the Toy Museum is a big hit with the under-eight crowd. Dolls, model trains, rocking horses, toy soldiers and tons of other toys on display date back 100 years. If all those unobtainable toys have unearthed your inner child, there's a playroom upstairs for more hands-on activity.
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Showing 1-19 of 19 results
